Do you know the difference between normal eating and an eating concern?

1. It’s Not About The Food Do you know the difference between normal eating and an eating concern? Office of Health Education and Promotion Health Services (603) 862-3823 | www.unh.edu/health-services

3. Wonder what normal eating is?

4. Count calories, carbs and fat grams at EVERY meal?

5. Exercise because I HAVE to, not because I WANT to?

6. Ignore hunger?

7. Feel isolated because of eating habits?

10. trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention but keeps it’s place as only one important area of your life. In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your emotions, your schedule, your hunger, and your proximity to food. Source: Ellyn Satter, RD, ACSW, How to Get Your Kid to Eat…But Not Too Much

12. Don’t be judgmental

13. Be specific about your concerns and observations

14. Let them know that you care about them

15. Speak calmly

16. Allow your friend time to speak

17. Listen carefully

19. Speak to a trusted friend

21. Tell the person you are very concerned about her/him.

22. Calmly tell the person some specific observations that have aroused your concerns.

23. Allow the person time to respond: listen carefully and non-judgmentally.

24. Keep the focus on symptoms/behaviors (eg. withdrawing from others).

25. If the information you receive suggests an eating concern, share with the person that:

26. you think he/she might be struggling with eating (or body image or weight management…);

27. you are concerned that their behavior may need to be evaluated by someone who understands eating concerns.

28. Be familiar with some of the resources in your community to which the person can be referred.

29. Seek information and advice for yourself.

30. Focus positive/encouraging comments towards who they are as a person not towards their appearance.

31. Emphasize positive personality traits and let them know what their strengths are.

33. Threaten or challenge the person.

34. Be judgmental. (ie. Don’t tell the person what they’re doing is “sick”, “crazy”, or “stupid.”)

35. Reinforce or focus on your friend’s appearance.

36. Diagnose.

37. Get into an argument or a battle of wills: Calmly repeat your specific observations, your concern, and your strong belief that they need to have the situation evaluated. End the conversation if it is going nowhere or if either of you becomes too upset.

38. Try to keep track of what the person is eating or try to force the person to eat or not eat.

39. Let the person monopolize your time or energy.

41. Where to find help with an eating concern at UNH… Dining Services (603) 862-2583|www.unh.edu/dining Students with specific nutrition concerns or medically-restricted diets may meet a Dining Services staff member to review options for dining hall accommodations. Assistance is provided with food selection, menu management, recipe ingredients and product questions. Athletic Training Department (603) 862-3892 Provides support and referral for any intercollegiate athlete with wellness concerns. Campus Recreation (603) 862-2031|www.campusrec.unh.edu Staff educates individuals on safe, effective and appropriate exercise programs. Staff strives to answer all questions and refer individuals to appropriate organizations when more assistance is needed.

42. Web Sites on Eating Concerns National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) www.nationaleatingdisorders.org Supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care. Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Inc. www.anred.com Provides information about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other less well-known food and weight disorders. BodyPositive www.bodypositive.com BodyPositive looks at ways we can feel good in the bodies we have. Andrea’s Voice www.andreasvoice.org Site dedicated to prevention and education on eating concerns in honor of Andrea Lynn Smeltzer who died tragically after thirteen months of bulimic behaviors when she was 19. Gurze Books www.bulimia.com Sells a variety of books on eating concerns and body image.